Kern finds defense at home
Husband, a minister, says he prays daily for her protection
Kern's husband says marriage bolstered despite distractions
Comments 
144
By Michael McNutt
Published: March 20, 2008
The Rev. Steve Kern says his marriage to his wife of 38 years has been bolstered despite the couple's receiving phone calls throughout the night and having at least one gay activist show up Sunday at his small inner-city church to take notes of his sermon.
Advertisement
OSBI investigates
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate alleged threats sent to Sally Kern, an agency spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Sally Kern said the number of encouraging letters and e-mails has grown the past week. She's appeared on several local and national radio shows.
"I am getting lots of support and I certainly appreciate it,” she said. Sally Kern said the most critical comments are coming from out of state while most support is coming from Oklahoma, where about 76 percent of voters in 2004 passed a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as consisting only of the union of one man and one woman.
Steve Kern said he and his wife are trying to maintain their everyday routine.
Steve Kern, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church, 1201 NW 10, the past 12 years, said the controversy over his wife's comments has united his congregation of about 130 members.
He said he wasn't alarmed when he recognized a member of the Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats, a gay rights group, at his church. He said he remembered him when his wife tried to get a bill passed two years ago that would have required libraries to move books with homosexual or explicit sexual material to adult-only sections. "I'm not saying anything that I have to apologize for or be afraid to say because we don't hate homosexuals, we want to help them,” he said. "We want them to find the forgiveness of God just like everybody else. We're not here to condemn them.”
Steve Kern said he hopes eventually "some semblance of normalcy” will return.
This Sunday is Easter, and the pastor said he takes comfort in recalling what Jesus Christ went through before His resurrection.
Related Topics:
Culture and Lifestyle, Relationships, Marriage, Special Interest Groups, GLBT Issues
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
Wow, that's an incredible term. So, now calling for equality and justice is "fascism"? That's really warped.
"just don't want to change a meaning,"
No, marriage will continue to mean EXACTLY the same as it always has, all that's changing is the elimination of a discrimination that exists for no good reason at all in government recognition of these marriages which are ALREADY taking place.
"they want to redraw a line in the sand of morality."
And it's desperately needed. The idea that homosexuality is somehow "immoral" was ALWAYS wrong, and it's not just wrong but dangerous and destructive, causing real serious harm to a lot of people for no good reason at all.
"and our perception of what is right and what is wrong. Who knows, may be that subject will come up in another discussion forum. Enjoy."
It'll come up EVERYWHERE, because the idea that homosexuality is just "wrong" is fading FAST, disappearing with very very good reason. It harms nobody. It is not chosen, and a person who is gay cannot choose to change their orientation, there is no such thing as a former homosexual. It's been shown to be perfectly natural and normal for some people to be gay. And those claiming scriptural backing for the idea that it's "wrong" are being shown to be wrong, too. Just as the church, black and white, had a leadership role in the elimination of racism it's time for Christians to stand up and fight against bigotry and homophobia and for a society where ALL people are valued and respected.
Hogwash. There's NOBODY harmed AT ALL by this.
"Weaving the perverted ideas of human relationships being between same sex partners into our childrens minds."
First off, it is NOT perverted. This is a proven scientific fact. Secondly, the "ideas" being "woven into the minds of young people" indicates that you STILL will not face this simple proven FACT that people do not choose sexual orientation. Teaching kids the facts about human sexuality will not cause a single kid, not ONE, to "turn gay." And teaching the most hateful, bigoted, trashiest lies about how horrible and "unnatural" and "perverted" and whatever else will not cause a SINGLE KID to "turn straight."
"it's not just about marriage. It's about the natural order of things."
And it is absolutely natural for some people to be gay and some to be straight, it's how God created us.
"If homosexuality were the way God intended, there would be NO reproduction."
WHAT???
That's DAFT!! That's just...utter ridiculous nonsense. What on EARTH are you babbling about? Of course God intended there to be homosexuality or it wouldn't exist. That some are straight and some aren't, that straight people make babies, that has NOTHING AT ALL to do with it. Good grief, that's just weird.
"People twist & cloud the issues to try to hide the fact that homosexuality is wrong."
It's not a "fact" it is a bigoted opinion with ZERO backing in scripture or decency or logic.
"Yes, that is my belief. And yes, I have the right to that belief as well as the right to voice & share that belief."
And others have the right to share and voice the belief that your belief is bigoted, hateful, immoral, destructive, and wrong.
What you do NOT have is the "right" to use government to promote your hateful lies, nor do you have the "right" to demand that churches teach them. Nor do you have a "right" to demand, based upon these "beliefs" to have government discriminate against people because you don't like them.
and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. (Romans 1:26-27). Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom-both young and old-surrounded the house. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them." (Genesis 19:4-5). Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, (1 Timothy 1:9-10). Enjoy, and I hope you study them.
Finally, the Gay Death Threats are a HOAX... they have found ONE comment out of thousands upon thousands of messages from people who condemn this close minded bigot that insinute a death threat. Gays haven't threatened her. I'm not gay and I can't stand Sally Kern, I wish she would go away, far, far away. She has done more to set OK back than all the glove wearing roosters combined. We are, thanks to her, the laughing stock of the nation. Sally Kern does NOT speak for all of Oklahoma! We are embarrassed and ashamed of her comments.